Marketing, Small Business and Life. An Interactive Hodgepodge of Thought

Thursday, March 15, 2012

A Challenge to New Photographers... (only if you want to succeed).

If you go back a ways in my blog you will find a series of posts called, “big boy pants” posts. This is one of them. Probably long overdue. It grows from a conversation I had yesterday with the truly inimitable Gary Fong and it also grows from lots of conversations with new photographers who think they’re doing everything right, but who find themselves in tough - and in some cases business ending - situations. Every once in a while I feel a need to put my foot down and say, ‘Doggone-it folks ... get better!’ (I rarely say Doggone-it!)

Here is my challenge to new professional photographers.

If you take money from someone to take pictures of something then you’ve made a commitment to that person to do the best possible work for them. This means you must be adaptable. It isn’t their problem if there isn’t enough light (or too much) it’s yours. It isn’t their problem if they aren’t terribly photogenic. It’s yours. It isn’t their problem if circumstances create challenges with moods. It’s yours. You took money from them to make great images of them. Make sure you can do that; anywhere, anytime, of anyone. That’s your job.

It’s not ALL about the equipment, but your equipment is definitely a part of it. There are a lot of “Pros” who don’t have anything approaching pro gear. That’s a problem. For why see #1 and also understand this. There is a BIG difference between the sensor in a Rebel and the Sensor in a 1DX. A 5D or a D700 has much more robust internal components than a kit camera. The breadth of aperture (I recently heard this referred to in a workshop as “the thingy that opens and closes” and I actually think the ‘teacher’ was confusing the function of the aperture with the function of the shutter), frames per second, focusing speed (or lack thereof), and data capture (megapixels), all serve to give those who know how to use true pro gear much greater latitude in tough situations. Ask the bride whose $20,000 wedding was not captured because the photographer’s Rebel or D70 malfunctioned just after the processional whether she is happy with her photographer. Ask the photographer if they’re happy with themselves.

You must learn light. I saw a great image the other day of a couple standing and looking at the sunset. He said, ‘great sunset’ and she said, ‘F8 at about 1/250.’ I think that’s about right. Great photographers are motivated to train themselves to see the world this way. Do you?

Posing isn’t a four letter word. Even if you are a “PJ” photographer (and this doesn’t mean you take pictures in your jammies), you need to have a really good understanding of the angles necessary to shoot different body types and faces. Anyone can take a decent picture of a model. Few people can take good pictures of me (cuz I’m an UGLY bastard!). If you are a pro you must be able to size up the big nose, the wide set eyes, the high forehead, the jutting chin, the jowls, the gut and the back boobs and immediately have a plan that doesn’t include changing what they look like in Photoshop. (for the record, I only have back boobs when I wear my strapless dress)...

Your gear must be an extension of your body. I have a very good friend who is an amazing guitar player. I recently asked him how he is able to shift so seamlessly to play virtually any kind of stringed instrument. He looked at me and smiled and said, “Practice, and the knowledge that the only way to know you’ve practiced enough is that you stop playing the instrument and you start playing the music.” Is that where you are with your gear? Are it’s functions and capabilities second nature to you? Do you play the guitar or do you play the music?

This may sound a little rantish ... it probably is. Here’s the thing. I hear so often from so many new photographers that they’re tired of established professionals wagging their fingers in their face and telling them they have to learn this stuff. Trust me, I get tired of the wagging too and I get plenty of it, but that doesn’t make these people wrong. If you are a photographer than photography is your business. Marketing, branding (if you must make it a different science than marketing), accounting, etc. are all aspects of the business to be sure, but it starts and ends when you look through the viewfinder and compose an image that makes your client smile. Be great at that first and then worry about all of the other stuff...

13 comments:

I resemble those remarks :) I am a better shooter than teacher. I also believe that I can't truly teach what I do. I can show them my techniques, but that's about it. What I do/shoot... is who I am. So, I inspire. I inspire those that want to become who they already are. They just don't know who they are yet :)

Right on brother! Technology has made the barrier to entry into this arena of photography easier than ever. However, if you are going to build a brand and survive in business you MUST master your craft. It's knowing what to do when the green box mode does not yield the image results you desire. You can't blame the camera, its just a box. Love you comparison to the musician, "you play the music, not the instrument." I may steal that for my presos, that's so true. The camera is just an extension of my eye. I don't spray and pray that I've captured a good image, I shoot with intent, see the image in my minds eye and use the proper tools I have at that moment to capture that image. A lesson I learned early on in my career was from my picture editor at the Chicago Sun-Times, Bob Kotalik. He said to me "Kid, come back with a good picture or don't come back at all. We don't publish excuses in the paper." I've embraced that my entire career. So go out there and practice, practice, practice. Use the best gear you can afford and exceed your customers expectations. Sign your work with excellence, it's your name on it. I put my BIG boy pants every time I shoot an assignment.

I can teach business to artists who already know how to create art, but I can't teach art to business people. I can show them how I do it, and walk them through MY process, but art is really an inward journey. Real art is a discovery process that begins early in life and develops over many years until it finally has the ability to convey something other than what's directly on the page or in the photo. You know it's ART when you FEEL something rather than just SEEING something.

Great article and just plain honest, no bells, whistles or stupid antidotes. I love it when I can read an article that is fact based.

Our art does not need to be made more difficult, just more basic and real.

The more you shoot the more you learn, the more you practice the better you will get.

I tell people who ask me... be honest with where you are in the photography industry... tell them you've never shot this or that before or you've got some experience but not a lot, but tell them you will do your best at a price they can feel comfortable with. Stop acting like you are a Joe, or Anne or Bob unless you are.

But better off, just be who YOU are and shot where YOU are with what YOU have.

Passion for photography vs making money taking pictures.....When I used to teach I would tell my students I can only give you to tools to take a photograph...until then...take a lot of pictures then open your eyes....and create a photograph....

Anne, I'm really hoping you can teach this business guy some art, just a little?... But I hear you all.

Joe and Bob are two of the best and I'm always amazed to be there when you are teaching. I never fail to learn. (even if sometimes what I learn is that it is VERY important for me not to quit my day job!)

Lisa. Thanks so much. In truth I sent this to some folks before I published it because I thought it might be too harsh. It was. Their thoughts are here too...

Someday I'd love to take a class from you Hutch and Kelly knows I stock her flickr.

Thank you for this honest post. I am a finger waggler and proud of it! I am all about supporting people's dreams of doing this professionally, but it takes time, dedication, PRACTICE and ... talent! Not just a cocky attitude and great branding :)

Right on Jim! This is a very easy "profession" to enter and proudly call yourself one. But, just calling yourself one does not make you one. Frankly, I don't even consider ourselves "Professional Photographers" unless we are credentialed in some fashion. Name another "true" profession that does not have required training, licensing and especially accountability to an oversight organization. Even a professional plumber needs a license and a bond, all we need is a camera and a web site.

To do nails, you need a license from the state. Yet to be a professional photographer - you can buy a Rebel and hang a newborn on a tree branch 10 feet in the air because you are copying some cool photographer who composited that in Photoshop. I had no idea how terrifying it was out there until people started sending me examples.

Hey Carla! It's a week - or a week and a couple of days... Yay. Right back at you friend. It will be fun to see you at Inspire. (BTW anyone reading this if you're interested in what that is just ping me).